ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY ACCESSORIES Last updated: 22 June 2005

MaxView DSLR II
Scopetronix Product Number: STDSLR2
$189

WARNING: I recently planned to take a bunch of photos of Jupiter through my LXD55-8"SC using the Scopetronix MaxView II DSLR adapter but had a problem getting the T-Ring to seat properly on my Nikon D70. Unfortunately by the time I figured out what was wrong I was "dew-ed out". What I discovered was that the small screw in the T-Ring (seen properly screwed in in these photos) was very loose (almost falling out) and was hanging at an angle. So the T-Ring would not turn more than about 10 degrees instead of the normal 45 degrees.

Once I managed to get the screw tightened back down the T-Ring turned and seated properly. I don't know what would have happened had the screw worked loose and fallen inside the camera while the T-Ring was being attached (bad things I'm sure) or disappeared into the grass. Just something to be aware of and check for before attaching a T-Ring to your camera (if your T-Ring has this small screw).

Scopetronix sent me one of their MaxView DSLR II adapters for eyepiece photography and a T-Ring (MTNIK; $19) for my Nikon D70 DSLR camera. The MaxView DSLR II holds either a 1.25" or a 2" eyepiece and fits into the 2" eyepiece hole on telescopes that have one. It also includes a removable MaxPower TeleNegative lens. There is also a Maxview DSLR for 1.25" eyepiece holes ($129).

Here you can see the TeleNegative Lens (on the left), the adapter, the 1.25" eyepiece holder (middle front), the T-Ring, and the D70 (on the right) before being attached:

And here is the complete unit:

I mounted the D70 DSLR on my LXD55-8"SC telescope. Here is what it looks like:

This is one heavy unit, even with a 1.25" eyepiece. It will be even heavier with a 2" eyepiece. So be certain your telescope can handle the weight of the adapter, eyepiece, and camera. The LXD55 seemed to handle the weight well (even with only one counterweight attached).

Besides using the TeleNegative Lens, the adapter body is adjustable, yielding different projection distances for variable magnification on the image plane. For my initial tests I did not use the variable projection capability.

The same adjustment can be used for long eyepieces or the large 2" inch eyepieces. My 2" Tele Vue 35mm Panoptic eyepiece fits fine without any adjustment.

To see the initial test photos, go to my Nikon D70 DSLR Eyepiece Projection Astrophotography page.

I have come to expect high quality from Scopetronix and the MaxView DSLR II exceeded my expectations. Would I want to use less with a Nikon camera?! And as my wife exclaimed when she first saw it, "it is impressive!" There is no doubt about that!

20 May 2005
I have now had a brief chance to use the MaxView DSLR II with my 2" eyepiece. Here is what the Tele Vue 2" Panoptic eyepiece looks like inserted in the MaxView II:

To see the initial test photos, go to my Nikon D70 DSLR Eyepiece Projection Astrophotography page.

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